Mancini's side fell 12 points behind city rivals Manchester United in the race for the title this weekend, with a humiliating 3-1 defeat away to Southampton on Saturday evening followed by Sir Alex Ferguson's side dispatching Everton with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

SINKING SHIP

MAN CITY DEFEATS IN 2012-13

Feb2013

SouthamptonPremier LeagueSt Mary's Stadium

1-3

Dec2012

SunderlandPremier LeagueStadium of Light

0-1

Dec2012

Manchester UnitedPremier LeagueEtihad Stadium

2-3

Dec2012

DortmundChampions LeagueSignal Iduna Park

0-1

Oct2012

AjaxChampions LeagueAmsterdam.ArenA

1-3

Sept2012

Aston VillaLeague CupEtihad Stadium

2-4 (AET)

Sept2012

Real MadridChampions LeagueBernabeu

2-3

City are therefore preparing to host Neil Warnock's men knowing that defeat would effectively end their hopes of silverware this term, after crashing out of the Champions League group stage and the Capital One Cup towards the end of last year.

Mancini signed a new five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium thought to be worth in the region of £37 million in July, but the club's disastrous title defence, coupled with a dire Champions League showing for the second consecutive year, has left the City hierarchy considering his position.

Tensions between Mancini and his players have also arisen in recent weeks, with members of the senior squad angry over the Italian's public criticism of individual performances.

Mancini singled out Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero for delivering "disappointing" performances following City's 2-2 draw with Liverpool on February 3, and said Joe Hart had "not been good enough" after making a crucial error in allowing Rickie Lambert's goal - Southampton's second - to trickle through his legs at St. Mary's.

Some members of the City first team have also been left confused by Mancini's tactical direction in recent weeks, with the champions relying on a makeshift defensive line-up over the past fortnight after skipper Vincent Kompany injured his calf at Stoke.

Club officials have been monitoring Mancini's performance since the English champions severely underwhelmed in Europe during the autumn, with director of football Txiki Begiristain making clear to the 48-year-old that City's performances needed to improve in November, as was exclusively revealed by Goal.com.